Saturday, July 17, 2010

Cookie Cutter Counterparts: The Flash

While most counterparts of Earths One and Two are distinct, a few are like twins, either identical or fraternal twins. A prime example is the first we are made aware of, Jay Garrick aka the golden age Flash and Barry Allen aka the silver age Flash. Each gained the ability to become the Fastest Man Alive on their respective worlds thanks to an accident directly related to their scientific research.

For a period of time, each man was employed at their mid-western city's police department as their resident scientist. Years later, Jay would start his own business of Earth-Two's Garrick Laboratories, a void that was filled on Earth-One by Star Laboratories. Both heroes were 5 feet 11 inches in height with a weight of 179 lbs. The fleeted footed friends were considered slow by their girlfriends, Iris West and Joan Williams, as the men always seemed late for appointments except when lives were on the line! Yet they won the gals' hearts and their hands in marriage! The lasses would become the faithful comrades of their husbands during their various costumed cases throughout the years.

Very early in their careers, Barry and Jay became founding members of their Earths' premier superhero teams, the Justice League and Society of America. And as such, they quickly gained close friends among their membership including the Green Lanterns. They even were eventually aided by another duo of speedsters, Barry's nephew Wally and Jay's friend Johnny, who would become Kid Flash and Johnny Quick. Each bridged the gap between their Earth and the counterpart's.

Perhaps one of the most defining attributes of each Flash is the legendary rogues gallery that they assembled during their careers. Several memorable menaces repeatedly plagued the lives of the scarlet speedsters, many of whom themselves were direct counterparts such as the Pied Piper and the Fiddler, Turtle-Man and the Turtle, Rainbow Raider and the Shade, Reverse Flash and the Rival, and several others we will later consider. There was almost a psychotic fixation these super-criminals had towards their fast foes, yet despite ingenious gimmicks they never stymied these heroic careers.

Indeed, their own cities, Central City and Keystone City, were synonymous for the exploits of this intrepid pair. For several years, these men persisted in protecting those residents of these mid-western burgs even when they themselves faced tragedy. Barry, for instance, lost his wife Iris when she was murdered by his arch-foe Professor Zoom. Jay nearly lost his own wife Joan when she was kidnapped by Dr. Fate and Barry's old foe, the Lord of Limbo. Thankfully, each was reunited with his bride after some time traveling exploits. However, Barry ultimately sacrificed his life to save the Multiverse during its initial Crisis, while Jay continued to carry the torch along with Wally of the name... Flash!